Elizabeth Warren taps deep pockets near and far

Mass. leads way; US cities give big

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The Harvard professor raised about $400,000 in New York and about $320,000 in Los Angeles, compared with about $250,000 in Boston and just over $200,000 in Cambridge, according to a Globe analysis of Elizabeth Warren’s unofficial numbers from her latest campaign filing.

By Noah Bierman and Matt Carroll
Globe Staff
July 16, 2012

Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren depended on deep pockets in California, New York, and donor-rich states to help fuel the nation’s most potent congressional fund-raising machine, according to her latest campaign finance report.

While Massachusetts remained Warren’s overall top fund-raising source, she collected more itemized contributions in New York and Los Angeles than any other city, including Boston, between April and June.

The Harvard professor raised about $400,000 in New York and about $320,000 in Los Angeles, compared with about $250,000 in Boston and just over $200,000 in Cambridge, according to a Globe analysis of Warren’s unofficial numbers from her latest campaign filing, which were reported Sunday to the Federal Election Commission. Warren has been heavily critical of Senator Scott Brown for his Wall Street fund-raising.

Other top fund-raising cities for Warren are Washington, D.C., Chicago, and San Francisco, as well as the Massachusetts communities of Newton, Brookline, Lexington, and Mitt Romney’s hometown of Belmont.

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The Globe analysis shows that about 60 percent of Warren’s larger contributions came from out of state. That figure, which includes only those contributions of more than $200 that must be reported in detail to federal officials, is consistent with her prior fund-raising periods.

Brown, the Republican incumbent, had not filed his report electronically as of 10 p.m. Sunday, in time for the Globe’s deadline. His campaign spokesman, Colin Reed, said technical problems prevented the campaign from filing.

Warren had been the top fund-raiser among congressional candidates as of April and could retain that title with the latest haul.

Her national appeal within the liberal wing of the Democratic party has helped her raise tremendous amounts of cash outside of Massachusetts, something Brown has widely criticized. Warren has in turn attacked Brown for taking Wall Street money.

During his 2010 special election campaign, Brown too depended on out-of-state contributions, but in the latest campaign, he has drawn more from in-state donors.

Overall, Warren raised $8.67 million from April through June while Brown raised about $5 million — the most lucrative period for both candidates.

Brown, who had a head start with his 2010 special election, has about $15.5 million in the bank compared with Warren’s $13.5 million.

Both candidates are already spending liberally as they fight one of the nation’s most competitive elections, with control of the senate at stake.

The Globe’s analysis shows that Massachusetts was responsible for about $1.8 million in itemized contributions to Warren. But Warren also raised about $900,000 in itemized contributions from throughout the state of California, and about $550,000 in the state of New York.

She also collected more than $100,000 each in Illinois, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. In all, Warren collected donations from each of the 50 states.

Her campaign spokeswoman defended her fund-raising sources.

“So far, more than 40,500 residents of Massachusetts have donated to Elizabeth’s campaign and more than 80 percent her donations are $50 or less,” Alethea Harney said in a statement. “Her proven record of standing up for middle class families is building strong grass-roots support across the Commonwealth.”

In House races, Joseph Kennedy III announced Sunday that he raised $1.3 million for the second consecutive fund-raising quarter, again setting the bar for US House candidates from Massachusetts.

The latest candidate from the storied family — who is running to replace a retiring Barney Frank of Newton in the Fourth District — benefited handsomely from his family’s reputation and connections. Few first-time candidates, much less veteran politicians, are able to raise that much in a House race.

In Western Massachusetts, Representative Richard E. Neal, a Springfield Democrat who faces a primary challenge from former state senator Andrea F. Nuciforo Jr. of Pittsfield, raised $365,000 between April and June. Nuciforo’s latest figures were not available as of Sunday night.

Representative William R. Keating, another Democrat who must compete in a September primary in his newly redrawn Cape Cod district, raised $179,000. The numbers for his opponent, Bristol District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter, were also not available.

Noah Bierman can be reached at nbierman@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahbierman.

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